The European Union’s stand: comprehension over, back to serious matters

At the time of the celebration of Europe’s Day, the European Union’s ambassador encouraged the Malagasy politicians to reach a political solution for the crisis. “Madagascar cannot afford any failure “, declared his excellence Leonidas Tezapsidis. The decision from the union’s 27 members about or rather against Madagascar’s authoritarian regime is actually pending. Cooperation will be very much restricted, and instruments will be a little bit different “, explained the ambassador.   

Sanctions will be targeting financial support and development projects although cooperation would not be completely broken, promises the ambassador. Support actions will be directly reaching for the population. “If need be, we will always be there for the people”, he insured, while pointing at the pledged 220,000 Euros for victims of the cyclone Hubert. “One is not going to let the civil society’s people down “.   

Europe requires the recovery of constitutional order in order to reach a consensual and inclusive transition, and pledges full support to the International Contact Group. “Whatever that has been agreed must be implemented”, underlined ambassador Tezapsidis. Such a phrase is refering to the transitional charter signed in Maputo as well as the additional act of Addis Ababa. “We are ready to pledge as much help as possible, but the recovery of a solution is entitled to the Malagasy” argued a diplomat still expecting for better conditions to be officially welcomed.  

Madagascar will not be compelled to follow any precise draft in the run of the political crisis’ settlement. The EU ambassador has, however, afforded some suggestions: “Talks are paramount and inescapable, reconciliation must be their result”. He relativized the relevance of a Pretoria II stage, boycotted in advance by Andry Rajoelina .  

“In spite of its firmness, the EU displayed evidences of comprehension in the implementation of the Cotonou agreements, argued his excellence Leonidas Tezapsidis. It was meant to leave a chance to the birth of a consensual solution “. Madagascar yet failed on basic fields as democracy, human rights respect and fair governance. Ambassador Tezapsidis quoted thereafter Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, whose European foundation’s speech became universal. “Spotting the advantage from the common advantage, and ruling out selfishness for the sake of everyone’s interest”, so reads the message.  

The EU is bound to pledge support to whatever economic and political reforms provided that they’re tackled within constitutional order. It is suggesting stability for institutions, the erection of a control system and a political counterweight, things which have fully been withering since the unconstitutional government change and the putsch of the year 2009. “A legitimate authority recognized by the majority and committed to care about the population “, is what Madagascar is requiring.